+Al_Nafuur Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 (edited) the Atari 2600 PlusCart ist based on Robin Edwards Unocart-2600 , and the extensions of DirtyHairy's fork. The PlusCart has no SD-Card, but an ESP8266 to connect to a local WiFi Network and the Internet. The PlusCart downloads the ROM-files from an Server in the Internet called the "PlusStore". The way this is done is similar to the way the Unocart-2600 loads ROMs from the FAT filesystem on the SD-card, while the VCS is performing a waitroutine in RAM. Additionally the PlusCart has one more interesting feature. It offers internet access to the ROM Developers, these functions are called "PlusROM". In the first bytes of a PlusROM the path and the backend hostname or IP address has to be encoded (as strings both terminated by '\0'). Sending and receiving bytes to the host does not need a waitroutine in the VCS RAM! At the moment the PlusROM functions can be used at 2K, 4K, 3F, 3E and 3E+ cartridges and any standard bankswitching cartridge with or without 128 bytes of RAM (@ 1000 to 10FF) and a 'Standard' F4 Bankswitching (@ 1FF4 to 1FFB). So now all kind of online ROMs (Games, Chat Clients, Mail-Clients, Web-Browser, MMOGs, etc. ) should be possible with the Atari 2600 VCS. more info at: https://pluscart.firmaplus.de Source: https://gitlab.com/firmaplus/atari-2600-pluscart Shop: https://pluscart.onlineweb.shop/ VID_20191013_033946.mp4 Edited February 27, 2021 by Al_Nafuur 22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SS Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 This looks wonderfully awesome! I am definitely interested to see how this progresses. I love new hardware that allows retro equipment to preform in ways that they were never even imagined for. I certainly don't *need* another multi-cart for my 2600 but I would absolutely buy something like this just to see everything that it can do. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Andrew Davie Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 Just what I need! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluejay Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 Interesting! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithbk Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 Hey, this guy figured out a way to put WiFi on an Atari 2600! Will wonders never cease????? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPUWIZ Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 18 hours ago, keithbk said: Hey, this guy figured out a way to put WiFi on an Atari 2600! Will wonders never cease????? Bah, I wish I had more time, I've been working on a MagicWiFi7800 box since last year. Cool project! ? 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Al_Nafuur Posted October 18, 2019 Author Share Posted October 18, 2019 The Atari 2600 is on his way to the cloud.? I just uploaded the next release of the PlusCart firmware, which now connects and register at my test PlusStore (In the test PlusStore, only uploading of maximum 10 ROMs with max 32Kb each is possible). If you do not already have build a PlusCart, you can also web-register at the PlusStore: https://pluscart.firmaplus.de/public/admin/register.php Login: https://pluscart.firmaplus.de/public/admin/#/login The PlusStore is powerd by directus You don't have to use the web APP to upload your ROMs, if you speak JSON and oAuth2, you can add a script or button to the build process of your favourite IDE to upload your Hombrew ROMs (or PlusROMs) with the directus API. here is a blurry video with the registration and uploading a ROM-File: VID_20191019_004530[1].mp4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Al_Nafuur Posted October 19, 2019 Author Share Posted October 19, 2019 As someone point out, releasing the binary without the source code is violating the GPL, so i decided to make the project privat again, until the source code and the whole project is in a state for a proper release. If someone wants to build and test his own prototype of the cart, or want's to take part in this project, feel free to contact me here at AtariAge. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Al_Nafuur Posted October 22, 2019 Author Share Posted October 22, 2019 The PlusROM cartridge emulation routine is ported to javatari.js the source code is in the forked project: https://github.com/Firmaplus/javatari.js The source-code for the PlusClock ROM and the compiled ROM is in the example directory, also the source code for the Clocks Backend. https://pluscart.firmaplus.de/javatari/index.html?ROM=../PlusClock.rom Google Chrome 2019-10-22 19-21-05.mp4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Al_Nafuur Posted October 24, 2019 Author Share Posted October 24, 2019 On 10/13/2019 at 4:44 AM, SS said: This looks wonderfully awesome! I am definitely interested to see how this progresses. I love new hardware that allows retro equipment to preform in ways that they were never even imagined for. I certainly don't *need* another multi-cart for my 2600 but I would absolutely buy something like this just to see everything that it can do. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GameLine ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Al_Nafuur Posted October 26, 2019 Author Share Posted October 26, 2019 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Al_Nafuur Posted November 1, 2019 Author Share Posted November 1, 2019 The project source code is released (even if it still needs more cleanup), also the eagle PCB layouts for the PlusCart breakout board and Gerberfiles for production (e.g. at https://jlcpcb.com) are released at: https://gitlab.com/firmaplus/atari-2600-pluscart A small website with info was also launched at: https://pluscart.firmaplus.de/pico/ I will finish two more prototype-boards for beta tester/developer, so if you are an experienced VCS programmer, that want's to develop an PlusROM online game/App for the Atari 2600, then send me a message about your idea and your reference projects, and i will send you one of the prototypes for free. For everyone else: I have ordered some more (new version) PlusCart breakout boards at jlcpcb which should arrive in 2 weeks, so send me a message if you want to have a DIY-kit (new PlusCart breakout board, pinheaders, jumpers, STM32F407VGT6 board and a ESP8266-01) for 10 EUR plus shipping. The project is still in an early beta state, so expect bugs 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TrekMD Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 This looks like a cool project! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danjovic Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 What a wonderful project! Thanks for sharing! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick M Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 This is awesome!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christo930 Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 On 10/12/2019 at 10:11 PM, Al_Nafuur said: the Atari 2600 PlusCart ist based on Robin Edwards Unocart-2600 (https://github.com/robinhedwards/UnoCart-2600). The PlusCart has no SD-Card, but an ESP8266 to connect to a local WiFi Network and the Internet. The PlusCart downloads the ROM-files from an Server in the Internet called the "PlusStore". The way this is done is similar to the way the Unocart-2600 loads ROMs from the FAT filesystem on the SD-card, while the VCS is performing a waitroutine in the his RAM. Additionally the PlusCart has one more ROM emulator routine to emulate online ROMs called "PlusROM". In the first bytes of such a PlusROM the path and the backend hostname or IP address has to be encoded (as strings both terminated by '\0'). Sending and receiving bytes to the host does not need a waitroutine in the VCS RAM! So now all kind of online ROMs (Games, Chat Clients, Mail-Clients, Web-Browser, MMOGs, etc. ) should be possible with the Atari 2600 VCS. more info at: https://gitlab.com/firmaplus/atari-2600-pluscart VID_20191013_033946.mp4 50.09 MB · 10 downloads I cannot think of something I want less. 1 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Andrew Davie Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 4 hours ago, christo930 said: I cannot think of something I want less. I plan to use this for Sokoboo to allow a shared online high-score table. Anyone playing Sokoboo on this cart will have their scores automatically entered via the internet connection. So, there's that. I think it's pretty cool. And, don't be such a grumblebum... ! 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 4 hours ago, christo930 said: I cannot think of something I want less. What the hell is your problem? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yurkie Posted November 11, 2019 Share Posted November 11, 2019 Very cool. Thanks for making this. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yurkie Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 I'm super busy anymore anyway you might sell one ready to use? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Al_Nafuur Posted November 15, 2019 Author Share Posted November 15, 2019 The new Version of the PCB arrived, these are with gold-plated plug contacts and a thicker PCB (1.6mm) ? But i'm out of ESP8266s ? 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Andrew Davie Posted November 15, 2019 Share Posted November 15, 2019 2 hours ago, Al_Nafuur said: The new Version of the PCB arrived, these are with gold-plated plug contacts and a thicker PCB (1.6mm) ? But i'm out of ESP8266s ? I source most of my electronics stuff from AliExpress. Highly recommended. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Al_Nafuur Posted November 15, 2019 Author Share Posted November 15, 2019 5 minutes ago, Andrew Davie said: I source most of my electronics stuff from AliExpress. Highly recommended. Just arrived this morning.. (of course from AliExpress ?) About 1EUR each, but they all have to be flashed with the latest AT Firmware AT version:1.6.2.0(Apr 13 2018 11:10:59) SDK version:2.2.1(6ab97e9) compile time:Jun 7 2018 19:34:26 Bin version(Wroom 02):1.6.2 Have to include this into the assembly instructions for the DIY Kits.. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted November 15, 2019 Share Posted November 15, 2019 Not sure I could get into this. But it's a novel and interesting project 2bshure. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoShedsWilson Posted November 15, 2019 Share Posted November 15, 2019 I am amazed at the things people are doing with the 2600. This is very cool and not something I would have ever considered. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
AtariAge on Instagram
Watch us on YouTube
Chat on Discord
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.